Ask students to read through these simplified examples of Human Rights.

They are simplified from the 30 articles of the Declaration of Human Rights. Content that is not relevant to children has been removed. For the full Declaration, click on the link to the World Service website in the right-hand, dark-blue box.

Individually, students select the ten rights they think are the most important.

In small groups, students compare and discuss their prioritised lists and come up with a group top ten.

Ask students to read through this case study about girls' education in Afghanistan. It goes against article 26 of the Declaration of Human Rights - the right to education.

This case study is a simplified version of one produced by the BBC's World Service. For case studies about each article in the Declaration of Human Rights, click on the link in the right-hand, dark-blue box.

Students write the diary entry of an Afghanistan girl. They can chose whether to write about:

Her life without education under the Taleban

Starting school in 2002

Both

Plenary

Students share their group's top ten list of Human Rights and explain their reasons for prioritisation.

Students read out their diary entries.

Ask students: Why do we need a Declaration of Human Rights?

Teachers' background

During World War Two there were a number of atrocities that were considered as crimes against humanity.

Many people, from all over the world, believed that there should be a set of rights, which all countries (or, at the very least, those within the United Nations) should work towards keeping.

In 1948, the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - 30 statements that protect the rights of all people to enjoy a number of freedoms.

Some of them are:

to be free from slavery

to be treated equally

to follow a religion

to go to school

These are things that the UN believed that all people should be entitled to, regardless of where they live.

Sometimes individuals, regimes and governments are guilty of not maintaining the UN Declaration, and people's human rights suffer. The UN continues to monitor these situations.

Other organisations, such as Amnesty International, monitor situations where human rights are not being maintained, and put pressure on governments who challenge people's freedoms.

Since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, nearly every government has signed up to one or more international treaties designed to guarantee those rights.

Curriculum relevance

Citizenship. Key Stage 3. National Curriculum Programme of Study

1b. The need for mutual respect and understanding.
1i. The world as a global community, and the political, economic, environmental and social implications of this, and the role of the European Union, the Commonwealth and the United Nations.
2a. Think about topical political, spiritual, moral, social and cultural issues, problems and events by analysing information and its sources.
2b. Justify orally and in writing a personal opinion about such issues, problems or events
contribute to group and exploratory class discussions.

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